Public lukewarm to idea of raising library fines

Cash-strapped system looks for ways to raise money

Published 10:00 pm, Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Public reaction to the prospect of stiffer Seattle library fines was just what you'd expect: mixed. And a bit limited.

City Library Board members are considering raising daily overdue-materials fines from 15 cents to 25 cents, with a maximum fine of $8 for each overdue piece of material. They're also pondering whether to notify parents or guardians of youths 17 and under who owe more than $25 in fines, and to send some youths' backlogged fines to a collection agency, which is not now done.

All this comes as the library has had its budget cut $1.17 million this year and faces even more as the city confronts a two-year, $121-million revenue shortfall through 2012. Library hours and some staff have already been cut and there are warnings that more reductions are possible.

Raising fines and fees could raise $650,000 per year, according to library staff, in addition to the $650,000 the library expects to save by shutting branches down for a week, starting Monday.

Library patrons aren't crazy about paying more fines, though some might accept it if other parts of the service are preserved or even improved.

One patron, Robert Lynn, said in an e-mail to library staff that he'd "hate to see the late fees increase in today's economy," or to see computer printing costs increased from 10 to 15 cents per page, as also proposed. "I know that you have to cut back on services, to stay in budget, but please don't levy higher costs on using the library," he wrote.

Patron Kenneth Pfaff called the increase in fines "a fair thing, as the fines can be completely avoided by simply returning things on time." Added Debra Ference-Enright: "As someone who occasionally borders on being a 'fine queen,' I certainly am willing to pay more to help offset costs."

Other users asked the library to make fine payment easier, such as accepting credit cards.

"If I could pay online I wouldn't let them accrue for so long," e-mailed Rita Bucklin. Added Tyra Sorensen: "Make it super easy to pay them (and) accept Pay Pal…"

Another patron, Jenny Scott Tynes, told the library they could "try being a little more serious about collecting fines."

"After returning overdue books my fines sit there on my account for months and months sometimes before I remember and have cash on hand," she wrote. "No one has ever asked me to pay up." Ten-year-old Ellie Roza, a Magnolia resident, told board members at a Wednesday hearing she didn't get a notice that she faced some fines, and once the amount exceeded her allowance she had to stop using city libraries.

Another library user, Tara DeCoster, e-mailed the staff that she's concerned that the city talks of raising fines but not the limit on the amount of fines a user can accumulate before losing their borrowing privilege. She said it will make it harder for her to check out books to help with her daughter's homework.

In all, the library received 19 verbal or e-mailed comments from 17 individuals as of Wednesday.

The increase, if put into effect, would make Seattle's daily fines the same as those in Multnomah County, Oregon, Kitsap Regional Libraries and Denver but higher than the King County System, Pierce County, the Timberland Library System, Boston and the District of Columbia.

Roza was one of just two people to show up at the hearing. Lynn's e-mail was read at the hearing. The other person at the hearing, Marty Comford, said patrons should be able to check out materials obtained through inter-library loans regardless of how much they run up in fees for multiple items.

Another patron, Dana Twight, , e-mailed that "I don't mind an increases in fines at all! Just tell the city that patrons want their library hours back!"

In February city libraries reduced hours and 15 of the 26 branches were cut back to five-day-a-week service as part of an economy move that doesn't appear ready to stop soon.

Library board members must approve increases in fines. Library staffers have proposed that the board decide on fine and fee changes in September and make them effective Nov. 1.

City Council members are beginning to consider the possibility of new sources of financing for the libraries. Options include merging with King County's system -- something that would require a change in state law -- or setting up a special property tax levy earmarked for libraries. The libraries are now financed as part of the city's general-fund budget, which is supported by property, utility, business and sales taxes.